Program Strengthens Capacity of Youth-Serving Institutions
Read All PostsThe Youth Entrepreneurship Development program is implemented by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) in partnership with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to the West Bank and Gaza. The program partners with universities and NGOs that work with youth in the West Bank to strengthen their ability to provide employability, entrepreneurship and service learning opportunities for young Palestinians.
Since May 2011, 23 staff members representing eleven Palestinian universities and NGOs that work in youth employability, entrepreneurship or service learning participated in a five-month Capacity Strengthening Process. This process included workshops, dialogues, clinics, and individual coaching sessions to share international best practices in youth development.
On Wednesday, October 26, the International Youth Foundation hosted a ceremony at the Red Crescent Society in AlBiereh City to celebrate completion of the Capacity Strengthening workshops. At the event, Dr. Mohammed AlMbaid, Chief of Party for the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program, stated: “we are very pleased to be able to contribute to improving the quality of services that Palestinian youth receive in employability, entrepreneurship and service leaning by sharing with our Palestinian partners international best practice and lessons learned from other countries.”
During the ceremony, the training participants received certificates, and spoke about the value of their experience. Bader Al Hudhud, Program Director of Partners for Sustainable Development, reflected on how much he had benefited from the program: “I look forward to each workshop because of the huge benefit to my personal and professional development. I hope that this program will continue because it is very important for Palestinian youth and for the development of youth-serving organizations.”
Fadi Khoury, USAID’s Project Management Specialist for the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program, also spoke about the importance of the training program: "An important aspect of YED is its emphasis on partner organizations’ sustainability that allows them to continue to deliver high quality services to youth on their own."
Since 1994, the U.S. Government, through the USAID, has provided more than $3.4 billion in economic assistance to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. USAID coordinates closely with the Palestinian Authority to support projects that reduce poverty, improve health and education, build infrastructure, create jobs, and promote democracy and good governance.